The Scandal in Literary Awards

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/opinion/letters/literary-awards.html

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To the Editor:

Re “Spurning Tradition, French Literary Jury Crowns Little-Known Author” (news article, Dec. 1):

Whether it’s the Renaudot, the Prix Goncourt or the National Book Award, here are simple rules for figuring out who needs to recuse himself from the panel of judges: blood, love, money.

If you’re related to the candidate, romantically entangled (now or in the past) with the candidate or have shared financial interests with the candidate, get off the panel. That has been the rule of thumb in the very few national literary award and fellowship panels and the many national grant review panels I’ve been happy to serve on.

In French that’s sang, amour, argent. C’est facile!

Judy KarasikSilver Spring, Md.

To the Editor:

Yes, I’m glad that unlike the prestigious Renaudot, judges for Britain’s Man Booker Prize and the American Pulitzer must disclose conflicts of interest. But the selection committees still choose men who have histories of harassing and assaulting women.

This is less of a “France” problem that exists only abroad and more of a patriarchy problem that circulates across countries and cultures.

Kimberly ProbolusBrewster, Mass.